Integrating Mindfulness and Compassion (IMC) Qualification - 2022 course

The IMC Qualification is a ground-breaking and accredited training course designed and developed by Karen Atkinson, Senior Partner of MindfulnessUK and run in partnership with The Sharpham Trust. 

This part-time course

• is a 200-hour Level 4 tailor-made qualification accredited by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB)
• consists of a 6-night intensive residential (36 hours of face-to-face teaching) and a further 164 hours of directed learning hours
• can be completed within a minimum of 9 months if the learner meets the prerequisites for the training (listed below under the heading Prerequisites).

MindfulnessUK's Karen Atkinson and Angie Ward tell you what you'll learn when you enrol on this course:

Learn to teach mindfulness with self-compassion

The course is for anyone who would like to include Mindfulness and Compassion in their working lives. People who attend the course come from a wide range of backgrounds and from every sector.

The course is for you if:

• You have experienced the benefits and transformative effects of mindfulness and compassion yourself and feel drawn to passing this learning to others
• You feel like starting a new career path or enhancing your existing work to improve the lives of others further
• You would like to learn tried and tested tools and an approach which will enable you to incorporate mindfulness and compassion into your work and everyday life.
• Meet the prerequisite listed below:

Prerequisites

Applicants must have all 3 pre-requisites

• Experience of mindfulness either through your own learning and experience and/or having completed the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course or similar either live, with a teacher and as part of a group or as E-learning.  We also accept Palouse mindfulness training.
• Achievement of Level 3 or higher qualification in any subject or Recognised Prior Learning (RPL).  RPL must be agreed with Head of Teacher Training Angie Ward before applications can be accepted.
• A sustained mindful meditation practice over a minimum of 6 months.

If you are unsure if you meet the prerequisite or would like to book an 8-week course, click here to learn about Sharpham's 8-week course (a synthesis of MBSR and MBCT) or contact [email protected] as MindfulnessUK offer an MBSR course.

Who developed this course?

The course has been designed and developed by Karen Atkinson of MindfulnessUK.

Karen is the author of the book Compassionate Mindful Inquiry in Therapeutic Practice, A Practical Guide for Mindfulness Teachers, Yoga Teachers and Allied Health Professionals.

Karen’s passion for making mindfulness and compassion accessible for everyone fuelled her to write this qualification. Through years of clinical work, she could see the benefits of teaching Mindfulness and Compassion together.

Says Karen: “Teaching mindfulness alone has many benefits, including bringing an awareness to our stress and related patterns and behaviours. However, teaching compassion alongside it is so powerful. It enables clients to soften around their experiences, be kind to themselves, learn new and sustainable ways to look after themselves and improve relationships and wellbeing”.

Click here or below for a prospectus and to find out more about the qualification.

Course content & structure

This practical course teaches students about the considerations and applications to work with mindfulness in a compassionate way. Learners will be given articles, books and internet resources and there will be assessments and assignments throughout the training.

This Level 4 course is accredited via the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB). On successful completion of the course, students will be qualified to offer compassion and mindfulness practices with their clients, in groups or on a 1-1 basis. The course can be taken as part of continuing professional development or as a standalone course, gaining a professional qualification to teach others. 

The course comprises 200 learning hours, 36 of which are face-to-face teaching days during the intensive residential at beautiful Sharpham House in South Devon and online via Zoom with the tutors. The other 164 hours involve self-directed study. These additional hours begin prior to the residential and up to the final submission date for assignments in June 2023.

To gain this accredited qualification, students must attend all teaching sessions and pass each of the assessment criteria contained within the eight learning outcomes below to Level 4 standard.

Students are assessed in the following ways:

In-class assessment – competency is assessed through observation of students teaching their peers in pairs and small groups.  All in class assessments will take place during the residential part of the retreat.

Self-directed study assignments – Competency is assessed via students' written assignments and all are completed sequentially after the residential with submission dates timetabled throughout September 2022 to June 2023.

Further information will be supplied on registration and at the beginning of the course you will be given a comprehensive student course handbook, giving details of the course content, a reading list and further information relating to the course.
 

Orientation & teaching session dates

The course commences from 7 to 8pm on Monday 5 September 2022 online via Zoom with a
warm welcome, introductions and orientation.

The residential retreat in Sharpham House takes place from Monday 19 September (arrival between 3pm & 4pm) to Sunday 25 September 2022 (departure by 11.30am). 

Before applying, all applicants need to ensure they are available for all these dates.  These are the Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) for this course and the only dates students are required to attend in person for this cohort.

Students will receive a schedule for each written Self-Directed Study assignments dates to be submitted to MindfulnessUK.  All students will be given access to supportive tutorials online up to the final submission date on 4 June 2023.

Internal Moderation, Internal Verification and External Verification Awarding Body Processes will take place between July and August 2023, after which the Awarding Body sends out Certification.

Course leaders:

Click the Leaders tab above for more information about Karen and Angie.